COVID-19 crisis and the efficiency of Indian banks: Have they weathered the storm?

The purpose of this study is to determine whether Indian banks were able to weather the COVID-19 storm. We estimate banks’ deposits-generating and operating efficiencies using a two-stage directional distance function-based network data envelopment analysis (DDF-NDEA) approach and seek to capture the immediate impact of COVID-19 on these efficiency measures by comparing their magnitudes in the pre-pandemic (2014/15–2019/20), just 1-year prior to the pandemic (2019/20), and during the pandemic year (2020/21) periods. The study looks at whether the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic was uniform across ownership types and size classes. The empirical findings suggest that the Indian banking system was resilient and withstood the immediate impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. During the study period, however, the large and medium-sized banks experienced some efficiency losses. By and large, regardless of bank group, banks have shown resilience to the shock of the global health pandemic and improvements in efficiency.     

Digital touch in sponsorship: Getting closer to the brand through virtual reality

Supporters are consuming more and more sporting events through digital platforms. Brands should adapt to these new consumption patterns in order to strengthen their connection with their customers. Today, researchers and practitioners can create more interactive and enjoyable experiences through virtual reality (VR) applications. Through two studies conducted on VR during sporting events, we show that mentally representing the touch experiences of players on the field reduces the psychological distance between the supporter and the player, which strengthens the supporter's attachment to the team and, through the same attachment, to the sponsor (Study 1). We also highlight that these positive effects of VR compared to real touch (using a player's jersey) is linked to the improvement of immersion, which stimulates touch imagery (Study 2). We discuss the implications of this research for theory and practice in the sports business and other sectors.     

基于最短距离法的机场辐射范围研究——以陕西省为例

针对最短距离法在选择机场时没有考虑到机场性质、忽略掉了机场所在地区的地域经济水平等一系列因素，导致计算结果十分不合理的问题，利用模糊理论对最短距离法进行优化，阐述机场辐射范围的界定方法，建立机场辐射范围计算模型。以陕西省为例进行实证研究，对陕西省的4个民用机场辐射范围进行计算。最后对机场建设提出建议。     

Bilateral Relations and Exports: Evidence from Google Big Data

This paper investigates the effect of bilateral relations on exports using data from Google Global Data. It finds that bilateral relations significantly reduced the negative effect of cultural distance on exports, indicating that they can promote exports by reducing trade costs. The paper finds that higher average Goldstein scores of events correlated with more exports and that bilateral relations had a larger effect on trust-intensive products, indicating that positive relations built trust and decreased the emotional distance between trading partners. The results also show that bilateral relations promoted exports at both the intensive and extensive margins but with a greater effect on the latter. Finally, bilateral relations had a greater positive effect on developing countries than on developed ones. The results were qualitatively unchanged when endogeneity issues and robustness concerns were considered.     

Once upon a time in a foreign market: The role of cultural distance in the economic performance of multilateral non-equity partnerships

As a consequence of globalization and advancements in technology, international collaborations, which bring together partners from different cultural backgrounds, have become increasingly prominent in the business world. While several studies have examined the impact of cultural distance on the performance of such partnerships, they have tended to focus on bilateral relationships, and the results they have produced are conflicting. By building on the resource-based view and distinguishing the differences between the concepts of cultural distance among partners and the cultural distance of partnerships from target markets, the present study provides insights into the role of cultural distance in the performance of multilateral project-based non-equity collaborations. Drawing on a sample of 1183 movies that were released in the U.S. between the years 2000 and 2020, this study demonstrates that while projects co-produced by culturally distant partners have yielded higher revenues, the cultural distance of partnerships from target markets can have a negative impact on economic performance. Furthermore, the results show that partnerships formed with firms that originated in countries that have greater diversity perform better in the target market, and such partnerships manage cultural distance more efficiently.     

制度距离对跨国企业正当性的影响——一个被调节的中介效应模型

如何解决中资企业在“一带一路”沿线国家(地区)面临的正当性危机,是企业国际化实践中亟待解决的问题。基于“一带一路”沿线跨国企业280份调查问卷,运用制度逻辑理论,构建正式、非正式制度距离影响企业正当性的有调节的中介效应模型,采用逐层回归法对制度距离和跨国企业正当性之间的关系进行实证检验。研究发现:正式、非正式制度距离均对企业正当性有负向影响,网络关系在制度距离和企业正当性之间起部分中介作用,企业战略正向调节网络关系和组织正当性之间的关系。研究结论拓展了组织战略能动性在跨国企业走出去管理情境下的应用,为解释网络关系、企业战略和组织正当性之间的关系提供了新视角。